Plans for Rupp and Convention Center Released, Financing Plan Yet to be Rolled Out

Renderings for a planned 're-imagining' of Rupp Arena from Triangle Park in downtown Lexington. A complete set of renderings are available on the next page.

Lexington, KY – The first concrete designs for a re-imagined and “free” Rupp Arena and adjacent convention center were released Monday.

Mayor Jim Gray was joined by Gov. Steve Beshear and others to show off the plans for a $310 million renovation project for the nearly 40-year-old arena.

Currently akin to a corrugated steel box, plans for the re-invented Rupp Arena would incase the existing bowl – the stands and court – with a new glass and steel structure, while moving convention spaces to the rear of the building. A new plaza would be created between the Hyatt Regency and the arena in space that is currently wide corridors for entry to the arena and convention space, to as Gray said “free Rupp.”

The design calls for an increase in convention space that currently sits on the north and east sides of the arena and would be reconstructed on the west and northwest walls of the structure that would include a transparent view to the concourses of the arena.

“The bones of Rupp Arena are very good,” said architect Robert Mankin a partner with the firm NBBJ. “The bowl has this incredible space and this incredible presence about it, and we’ve wanted to keep that as we’ve developed the design. But we’ve also wanted to introduce modern amenities that you find in arenas today.”

Those would include seatbacks on all levels, a second concourse level servicing those sitting in the upper bowl of the arena to include space for concession and merchandise sales. Much of that would be visible from the street to not only provide those in attendance a view of the city, but to “bring the energy inside to the city outside,” a release from the Mayor’s Office states.

“Fan experience is about more than just sitting in your seat,” Mankin said about the presentation that would be experienced by ticket holders from the time they approach the arena from one of its two entrances along High Street or a new main entrance adjacent to Triangle Park.

All of this can be completed in time for the 2017 season of UK Basketball according to officials present if the $65 million proposed by Gov. Beshear is maintained in the final budget to be passed by the legislature. If that occurs, Gray and Lexington Center Board Chairman Brent Rice said construction could begin during the first quarter of 2015

How the final $245 million of the proposed project would be paid for remains to be seen.

“We have not been sitting idle – at all – dealing with this financing plan,” Rice said during the press conference.

“We’ve had conversations with our legislature, we’ve had many conversations with Kentucky High School Athletics (Association), the University of Kentucky, as well as the convention and visitors bureau and members of Urban County Council… we will continue to do that. We have been working on a long-term lease with the University of Kentucky.

“That lease, it will define UK’s contribution of this project,” Rice said.

"The university and our athletics department have been working closely with the LCC (Lexington Center Corporation) and the City on the design process and believe the reimagined Rupp would provide significant improvements for fan satisfaction,” a statement from University of Kentucky Jay Blanton said.

“We congratulate Mayor Gray in the next step of this exciting vision for our community, which was unveiled today. We will continue to work in partnership with the LCC and the City on the contribution of UK Athletics to a sound financing plan; and to finalize a long-term lease with LCC. There is still work to do," Blanton’s statement concluded.

During a July press conference to announce NBBJ in collaboration with local firm EOP Architects and construction management company Hunt, Rice stated there would be a “bulletproof” plan rolled out in short order on how that would be financed. When asked about that today, Rice said the group needed to get a final design in to truly determine what would be needed.

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“The design is locked and now we can put a pencil to everything, so it makes a lot easier to work on those other details,” Rice told in an interview.

Once it is complete, Rice promised a “specific” financial plan. Some items that would be figured into that plan include tax increment financing and “naming rights, more concerts, events, more conventions, meetings and the development of 20 acres that is a tremendous asset that the city has on High Street,” Rice said.

“Although we have not made a decision yet about naming opportunities,” Rice said, “it’s the last thing we want to do and we know ‘Rupp’ will always be part of this name.”

In addition, Rice mentioned - as he did in July - a concept of selling memberships of a sort to the general public. Rice likened the plan to one the NFL’s Green Bay Packers embarked on to renovate their historic stadium by selling non-voting shares in the team, which is entirely owned by the public.

Watching what the Louisville Arena Authority has gone through in seeking to service the debt involved in the construction of the KFC Yum Center – bonds for the project have been downgraded to junk status – Rice said his team has taken note.

“We will be very careful, very, very careful not to expect too much revenue too soon. We have learned,” he said in reference to TIF funding, which returns any new taxes generated in the specified area around the arena above current levels to reimburse certain construction costs for the project.